The correct answer is: a) Lower Paleolithic Period
The Lower Paleolithic Period is the earliest part of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age. It began with the first use of stone tools by hominins, and ended with the beginning of the Middle Paleolithic Period. The Lower Paleolithic Period is typically dated to between 2.58 million and 300,000 years ago.
The earliest evidence of human presence in the Punjab region dates back to the Lower Paleolithic Period. This evidence comes from the Soan Valley, which is located in the northwestern part of the Punjab region. The Soan Valley is home to a number of archaeological sites that have yielded stone tools and other artifacts dating to the Lower Paleolithic Period.
The stone tools found at the Soan Valley sites are typically made of quartzite and chert. They are simple in form, and include hand axes, cleavers, and scrapers. These tools were used for a variety of purposes, such as hunting, butchering, and woodworking.
The presence of stone tools at the Soan Valley sites provides evidence that humans were living in the Punjab region as early as the Lower Paleolithic Period. This evidence suggests that the Punjab region was an important area for human habitation during this time period.
The other options are incorrect because they do not correspond to the time period when the earliest evidence of human presence in the Punjab region dates back to. The Middle Paleolithic Period lasted from 300,000 to 30,000 years ago, the Upper Paleolithic Period lasted from 30,000 to 10,000 years ago, and the Mesolithic Period lasted from 10,000 to 5,000 years ago.